Trochetia boutoniana
Encyclopedia
Trochetia boutoniana also known by its native Mauritian name Boucle d'Oreille is a shrub from the Trochetia
genus endemic to Mauritius
. Traditionally included in the family
Sterculiaceae
, it is included in the expanded Malvaceae
in the APG
and most subsequent systematics.
adaptions it is leathery on the underparts. Also stipule
s are present. The petal
s are between 5 and 6 cm and they are growing asymmetric. They are bell-shaped and the couloring is dark red with a white background. The capsule is globular shaped and contains up to 10 black seeds. The flowering time is from June to October.
This plant is relatively rare because of its weak regeneration and due to introduced monkeys which feed from the blossom buds. The only occurrence are the slopes of Le Morne Brabant
, Mauritius. Thanks to the efforts of botanist Joseph Gueho it was successfully germinate and grown in cultivation for the first time in 1973.
Trochetia boutoniana is the national flower of Mauritius since 1992 and it is often illustrated on stamps of Mauritius. It was named after French botanist Louis Bouton.
Trochetia
Trochetia is a genus of flowering plants from the family Malvaceae . They are endemic to the Mascarene Islands.The genus was first described by A.P...
genus endemic to Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
. Traditionally included in the family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Sterculiaceae
Sterculiaceae
Sterculiaceae is a botanical name for a group of flowering plants at the rank of family, which is now considered obsolete. As is true for any botanical name, the circumscription, status and placement of the taxon has varied with taxonomic point of view...
, it is included in the expanded Malvaceae
Malvaceae
Malvaceae, or the mallow family, is a family of flowering plants containing over 200 genera with close to 2,300 species. Judd & al. Well known members of this family include okra, jute and cacao...
in the APG
Angiosperm Phylogeny Group
The Angiosperm Phylogeny Group, or APG, refers to an informal international group of systematic botanists who came together to try to establish a consensus on the taxonomy of flowering plants that would reflect new knowledge about plant relationships discovered through phylogenetic studies., three...
and most subsequent systematics.
Description
It can reach a height up to 3 m. The leaves are oval shaped and due to its xerophyteXerophyte
A xerophyte or xerophytic organism is a plant which has adapted to survive in an environment that lacks water, such as a desert. Xerophytic plants may have adapted shapes and forms or internal functions that reduce their water loss or store water during long periods of dryness...
adaptions it is leathery on the underparts. Also stipule
Stipule
In botany, stipule is a term coined by Linnaeus which refers to outgrowths borne on either side of the base of a leafstalk...
s are present. The petal
Petal
Petals are modified leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They often are brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. Together, all of the petals of a flower are called a corolla. Petals are usually accompanied by another set of special leaves called sepals lying...
s are between 5 and 6 cm and they are growing asymmetric. They are bell-shaped and the couloring is dark red with a white background. The capsule is globular shaped and contains up to 10 black seeds. The flowering time is from June to October.
This plant is relatively rare because of its weak regeneration and due to introduced monkeys which feed from the blossom buds. The only occurrence are the slopes of Le Morne Brabant
Le Morne Brabant
Le Morne Brabant is a peninsula at the extreme south-western tip of Mauritius and the most windward side of the island. It is highlighted by an eponymous single standing basaltic rock with a summit of 556 metres above sea level, the most imposing sight on Mauritius. The summit covers an area of...
, Mauritius. Thanks to the efforts of botanist Joseph Gueho it was successfully germinate and grown in cultivation for the first time in 1973.
Trochetia boutoniana is the national flower of Mauritius since 1992 and it is often illustrated on stamps of Mauritius. It was named after French botanist Louis Bouton.